Sky to Sea Powder Tour

10 NIGHTS | 7 DAYS SKIING/RIDING | $3590$3490 Earlybird

FULLY GUIDED / INSTRUCTED & HOSTED SKI & SNOWBOARD TOUR

NEW FOR 2017-18, THIS TOUR WILL HAVE YOU ROAD TRIPPING THROUGH CENTRAL HOKKAIDO AND THE COASTAL POWDER ZONE OF OTARU WHILST IMPROVING YOUR POWDER SKILLS.

Designed for those who wish to perfect and improve their skiing and riding whilst being guided around some of the best areas in Hokkaido.

Central Hokkaido and Otaru are the last areas of Hokkaido not yet overrun by Gaijin. Expect run after run of untracked powder, no crowds and a true cultural experience. Your certified instructor and guide will help you gain more confidence in all types of powder filled terrain.

For the first 7 nights you’ll be staying in our base in Furano. From there we will ski Furano, Kamui, Asahidake, Tomamu, Sahoro or Pippu – whichever has the best conditions that day. The terrain of each resort will help you gradually progress your power skiing and boarding – from the wide open trees on a 25 degree pitch at Tomamu to the steeper powder slopes of Asahidake. Each ski area has it’s own weather zone so you’re always guaranteed to find some powder to play in.

Central Hokkaido also offers up a great Japanese cultural experience with beautiful volcanic onsens, amazing local food and local Japanese experiences.

From Furano we will head through Sapporo to Otaru famed for being the snowiest place in Japan. Along the way we’ll have a cultural excursion in Sapporo and if you’re joining us on the 24JAN tour see the Snow Festival. During our time in Otaru Kokusai, Teine and Kiroro are in our sights and whichever two of these has the best weather will have the pleasure of our presence.

This tour is specifically designed for those who can confidently ski/ride the whole mountain on piste making parallels turns at speed and have maybe encountered some powder but struggle when skiing or boarding off-piste and in deep powder. Fill in our enquiry form or call us or and have a chat to see if this Sky to Sea Powder instruction tour suits you.

High-Intermediate – This tour is specifically designed for those who can confidently ski or snowboard the whole mountain at speed on piste and have had some experience in powder but but would like to improve their ability and confidence off-piste in deep powder. You will get the most out of these tours if you have a good level of fitness.

We are a fully licensed travel agent with wholesale fares and can organise discounted flights from any capital city. Ask for our ski and fly packages.

Furano is a country town of about 20,000 people with an awesome ski hill. With over 100 bars and restau- rants you be able to experience true Japanese hospitality . On the mountain you’ll enjoy some of the best tree skiing in Hokkaido, with easy to access wide open bowls, mellow glades, and powder zones perfect for learning how to ski deep pow. The cold temperatures in Furano keep the 9 metres of annual snow light and dry and when its on, it is quite simply the best. Add to this the distinct lack of crowds and express lifts that take you to the top of 3.5km runs in a little over ten minutes and you have a recipe for leg burning skiing.

Tomamu

Tomamu strikes a cord with all who ride its mountains. With arguably the best in-bounds powder skiing in Hokkaido you’ll be wanting to come back for more. Mt. Tomamu at 1239m, offers skiers and snowboarders a wide variety of runs catering to all abilities. With 11 lifts, Tomamu has some great options. It also offers skiers and boarders an awesome park and off-piste section which is roped off from the rest of the crowd.

Kamui

Kamui is a small ski resort set on its own, 1.5 hours north of Furano. With 7 lifts accessing a network of wide open cruises as well as powder filled trees and gullies, you’ll feel like your riding your own private mountain as crowds here a virtually non-existent. Combine that with one of Japan’s most open ski area policies, and there is enough here to suit every kind of skier and boarder.

Asahidake

Asahidake is one of the most popular touring locations in Hokkaido, due to the easy access to above tree line terrain given by the Ropeway at the bottom of the volcano (top height 1600m) and the fame of the mountain itself, which at 2290m is the highest in Hokkaido. For those on the progression tour there are plenty of options for graded tree skiing. This is where you really test out those powder skills you’ve learnt that week. Once at the bottom, all roads lead to the Ropeway but if you do happen to veer off the well groomed runs a short hike may be needed to return to the lift.

Kokusai

Hidden in the mountains betweens Sapporo and Kutchan, Kokusai is well off the beaten track and practially deserted. However that is not because it lacks terrain in any way. Kokusai has some fantastic off-piste powder zones for all abilities.

Teine

This is a great little resort located 40 minutes from downtown Sapporo and about the same from Otaru. Little know by foreigners, Teine has some awesome terrain off its main high-speed quad. With views to the coast you can get heavy systems coming straight off the sea and unloading their snow ladden clouds directly onto to Teine.

Kiroro

Located between Niseko and Otaru this little gem has some great terrain hidden just off and inbetween its piste areas. If you didn’t know where to drop off the run you’d completely miss the deep stuff. What’s more it consistently gets the most sow of any resort in Hokkaido.

In Furano we are staying at North Country Inn. It is conveniently located between the two sides of the ski hill giving you access by regular free shuttle to the Furano side before anyone else! It has both traditional Japanese and Western style rooms with en-suites. Shared onsen style bathing is also available. Facilities include 2 dining restaurants, winery, lounge/bar with satellite TV, rental cars, foreign exchange, wireless internet, souvenirs, common laundry, ski hire, and regular guest shuttle to the ski lifts.

GRAND PARK OTARU

This 4.5 star hotel is right on the water with views up and down the coast and on the other side of the hotel there are views to the hills you’ll be skiing over the next few days. You’ll stay in luxury here with all the comforts of home and then some. The breakfast is amazing and with a shopping centre, bars and restaurants below the hotel you’ll have plenty to do when you’re not skiing.